crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

About a month ago I asked here and received advice about a new PC. I have it now and it's time to share some comments and impressions.
I got a Dell XPS 8910 from Costco (they add a second year warranty) with good "concierge service". The PC is a i7 4.0Ghz, 24 GB DDR4 memory,
NVIDIA 960 w/2GB VRAM, 2TB HD + 250GB SSD, assortment of USB ports, Windows 10 Pro, etc.
1)The PC is fast due to the SSD which is a must for today's machines. The size, 250GB, seems adequate based on what I'm using on my older PC's C drive.
2)My older machine is still working but I wanted to get the new PC before the old one died. This gives me time to move and install applications and data
at a leisurely pace.
3)My big use is photography so there're plenty of images stored on the old PC's internal drives, E & F. I'll move the bigger 2TB drive to the Dell (4 bays, 3 are still
available). There're backups on external drives which will be switched also to the Dell.
4) I'm on the Adobe CC photography plan, $10/month. I've installed the CC, Photoshop and Lightroom on the Dell but haven't moved yet LR to it. I've viewed some
videos on how to move LR catalogs, data, smart previews, etc from one machine to a second one. I hope it'll be smooth and quick.
5) I still use my old PC, a HP Envy (I'm writing this post from the HP). I can use both PCs at the same time since they're both connected to the same display, keyboard and mouse
via a KVM switch. This makes things much easier.
6) I may add on another internal drive like a 4-6TB WD black or something similar for backup purposes even though I have external drives for that.

Any comments, questions, suggestions are welcome,

Sam

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

sounds like a great system. the only thing I will add is to keep a careful watch on your 250gb solid state drive. I went with the 250 solid state and it filled quickly, I had to change it and it was a pain. if you are able to, make sure you keep a mirror drive to back up your drive in case you need to change it in the future. the solid state is fast, but too small in the 250gb range.

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

Why did your drive fill?

tcthome Loc: NJ

Good Morning! Orrie , You need to store all your files on another drive & move them to the SSD when you want to edit them.

crphoto8 , Enjoy your new Dell! Was Costco any cheaper than dell? If so , do you mind me asking how much your new machine cost?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It sounds like you got a good machine there. I have the 8500 and 8700 and almost bought the 8900. The SSD is great, isn't it. I put the Samsung 500GB SSD in mine. I built a new machine and almost put a 250GB SSD into it, but I decided on the 500 instead. With LR, PS, and lots of other programs installed, only a fraction of the drive is used. I've been putting 4TB HGST drives into my desktops. They're very good quality and large enough to hold my data, with room to spare.

I, too, use a KVM switch for two computers. I wouldn't want to go back to using only one computer at a time.

If you get CrystalDiskInfo (free), you can keep track of the hours, starts, temperature, and other things about the drives. I added a fan to my 8700 because I didn't like seeing the drive temp going over 100°. There are lots of good computer fans available online, but I just took one out of an old machine.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

With 24GB RAM, you shouldn't need to move your files to the SSD when you are editing them unless you are editing video perhaps. You really would have to have a LOT of programs to fill up your 250CG SSD.

One thought - use your new machine only for off-line things and keep the old one for internet browsing, posting, emails, etc. Then you will never have to worry about a virus on the new machine!

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Depending on your KVM switch and what you are connecting as far as video (in other words the is it standard VGA, EVGA or what type of connector), the KVM switch will probably work fine. I have one that connects to my 3 unix servers and 2 Windows business servers and it works fine. It has cables and connections to support up to 12 devices (Mouse, keyboard, and video) and I can switch between any or it will automatically roll the display, spending up to 5 min. (there is a set display length option in setup) on each display all going to one Monitor, Mouse and keyboard. My KVM switch will NOT support a wireless mouse and Keyboard though so I keep my old wired devices as a backup for the KVM.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My KVM says it will not support wireless, yet I am using a wireless mouse.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

http://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?keyword=dell+xps8900

Just out of curiosity, I put a Dell XPS 8900 on my Amazon Wishlist. The price has varied between $699 and $899, depending on who is selling it.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Most programs need to load to the C: drive. I stored all of my files on alternative drives, but the main programs filled the drive after about 1 year. I guess I just have too many main programs for 250 gb.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

LOL! mine said it but I, like you went to prove it. They were correct in my case. It may be that mine REQUIRES the standard wired mouse and keyboard connections and doesn't have any USB connections at all, and my only "wireless" mouse / keyboard that uses the "wired" mouse keyboard connections was a Microsoft setup. Also, I set this up 8 years ago and things change. My KVM is still rocking along as are my servers so, No harm, No foul. I can live with it and have plenty of add on points should I want to add servers. My main 2 computers are separate, in a different room from my servers, and use hdmi monitors. So they are not connected except through my fiber optic lan.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My KVM will be eight years old in January. I'll probably have a small party.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My sole comment is about the SSD. Yes, they are the greatest things since sliced bread, but I don't understand why 250GB is not enough for you. I'm a power user too and it's plenty for me. The ONLY stuff stored on mine is the OS and software; all other files are somewhere else including the Lr Catalog and actual photos. Please don't forget that if you give PS a scratch drive other than C, it runs much faster. Best of luck!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The price difference wasn't that great, and I like to have lots of empty space on my drives. For my new machine, I got a Samsung 500GB M.2 drive, and it's even faster than their SSD. Like you, I have only the OS and programs on the C drive, something I learned on UHH.

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

My main computer has a 256mb ssd. It is only about 50% filled. It has lots of software. You must have other stuff going on it.